President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. vowed before foreign partners that he will ensure every resource used in the implementation of the Asian Development Bank-funded railway project in Laguna will be maximized.
"As your President, I will make sure that every resource that will be used here will be maximized for the success of this entire endeavor," Marcos said in his speech during the contract signing for the South Commuter Railway Project of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) in Calamba City, Laguna on Thursday, Oct. 6.
The contract signing covered the implementation of the Contract Packages S-04,S-05, S-06, and S-07 of the infrastructure project.
He thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the ADB for co-financing the North-South Commuter Railway System, adding that it is the "largest ADB infrastructure-funded project" the regional development bank has done in Asia.
"We welcome this development at a time when we are going — and we have used this phrase often — full speed ahead towards modernization and our transport system and we are reclaiming our lives from the Covid-19 pandemic. This is what all of this truly means," Marcos said.
He further said that these partnerships are something that "we hold very, very valuable."
As the President ensured that the Philippines will maximize the assistance from foreign institutions, he sought the commitment of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other concerned agencies to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
"I thus call upon the Department of Transportation, all the concerned agencies, local government units, as well as our partners and other stakeholders, to ensure the smooth and faithful implementation of this essential undertaking," he said.
Once completed, the 56-kilometer South Commuter Railway Project between Manila and Laguna will reduce the travel time between the two places from three hours to just one hour.
It is also projected to accommodate up to 340,000 passengers a day.
As this forms part of the North-South Commuter Railway System, the South Commuter Railway Project is expected to contribute in seamlessly transporting passengers from Clark, Pampanga and Calamba City, Laguna, and all the train stations in between.